Blends of copolyesters with cured epoxy resins

ABSTRACT

An improved usually thermosetting copolyester composition comprising: A. AT LEAST ONE SEGMENTED COPOLYESTER POLYMER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF (1) ABOUT 5-85 WEIGHT PERCENT OF RECURRING LONG CHAIN ESTER UNITS DERIVED FROM AT LEAST ONE DICARBOXYLIC ACID HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT BELOW ABOUT 300 AND AT LEAST ONE POLY- (ALKYLENE OXIDE) GLYCOL HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT BETWEEN ABOUT 400-6,000 AND A CARBON-TO-OXYGEN RATIO OF ABOUT 2.0-4.3 AND (2) ABOUT 15-95 WEIGHT PERCENT OF SHORT CHAIN ESTER UNITS WHICH ARE DERIVED FROM AT LEAST ONE LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DIOL HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF LESS THAN ABOUT 250 AND AT LEAST ONE LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DICARBOXYLIC ACID HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF LESS THAN ABOUT 300, B. ABOUT 1.0 TO 50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT BASED ON SAID COPOLYESTER, OF A POLYEPOXIDE HAVING A FUNCTIONALITY OF AT LEAST TWO AND C. ABOUT 0.5 TO 1.1 EQUIVALENTS, PER EPOXY EQUIVALENT, OF AN EPOXY CURING AGENT SELECTED FROM AROMATIC AND ALIPHATIC POLYAMINES AND CYCLIC ANHYDRIDES OF POLYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS. Optionally from 0.05 to 0.5 weight percent based on said copolyester of an epoxy catalyst may be included in the composition.

United States Patent 1191 Hoeschele Mar. 27, 1973 [54] BLENDS OF COPOLYESTERS WITH Primary Examiner-Paul Lieberman CURED EPOXY RESINS Attorney-Michael Conner [75] Inventor: Guenther Kurt Hoeschele, Wilmington Del [57] ABSTRACT 73 Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Comf thermosetting copolyester pany, Wilmington, Del. posmon compnsmg:

a. at least one segmented copolyester polymer conl Filedl 7 sisting essentially of (1) about 5-85 weight percent of recurring long chain ester units derived [21] Appl' No" 236445 I from at least one dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight below about 300 and at least [52] US. Cl. ..260/835, 260/40 R, 260/47 R, one poly- (alkylene oxide) glycol having a 260/75 R, 260/330 260/860 molecular weight between about 400-6,000 and a [51] Int. Cl. ..C08g 45/14 carbon-to-oxygen ratio of about 2.0-4.3 and (2) [58] Field of Search ..260/835, 830 R about 15 95 weight percent of short chain ester units which are derived from at least one low [56] References Cited molecular weight diol having a molecular weight of less than about 250 and at least one low UNITED STATES PATENTS molecular weight dicarboxylic acid having a 2,890,196 6/1959 Phillips ..260/835 molecularweight e than about 300, 2,890,197 6/1959 Phillips ..260/835 about 1.0 to 50 percent y weight based on said 2,935,488 5/1960 Phillips ..260/835 copolyester, of a polyepoxide having a func- 3,297,782 1/1967 Barkis ..260/835 tionality of at least two and 3,378,497 1968 La a 260/330R 0. about 0.5 to 1.1 equivalents, per epoxy 3,397,254 Wynstra equivalent of an epoxy curing agent elected 3,670,045 6/1972 Koleske ..260/83O R Great Britain ..260/835 from aromatic and aliphatic polyamines and cyclic anhydrides of polycarboxylic acids.

Optionally from 0.05 to 0.5 weight percent based on said copolyester of an epoxy catalyst may be included in the composition.

16 Claims, No Drawings BLENDS OF COPOLYESTERS WITH CURED EPOXY RESINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Linear copolyesters or copolyetheresters have been utilized heretofor for various purposes, particularly for the production of films and fibers but the known polymers of this type have not been as effective as would be desired for certain applications. In particular, certain copolyesters of this type which possess very desirable properties such as superior tear strength, tensile strength, flex life, abrasion resistance and low temperature properties may, for particular designated uses, have to be improved with'regard to characteristics such as hydrolytic stability, scuff resistance and high temperature properties. Thus for uses such as hydraulic hose tubes, steam hose, hose covers and wire covering a combination of outstanding hydrolytic stability, scuff resistance and high temperature properties are often needed. In particular, scuff resistance in combination with outstanding low temperature properties is needed for molded snowmobile tracks and ski boots and other molded or extruded goods exposed to rough handling at low temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided an improved usually thermosettin'g copolyester polymer which possesses superior scuff resistance, hydrolytic stability and high temperatureproperties.

The copolyester which is to be improved by the instant invention consists essentially of a multiplicity of recurring intralinear long chain and short chain ester units connected head-to-tail through ester linkages, said long chain ester units being represented by the following structure:

and said short chain ester units being represented'by the following structure:

wherein:

G. is a divalent radical remaining after removal of terminal hydroxyl groups from poly(alkylene oxide) glycols having a carbon-to-oxygen ratio of about 2.0-4.3 and molecular weight between about 400 and 6,000;

R is a divalent radical remaining after removal of carboxyl groups from a dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight less than about 300; and

D is a divalent radical remaining after removal of hydroxyl groups from a low molecular weight diol having a molecular weight less than about 250.

With the provisos that the short chain ester units constitute'about 15-95 percent by weight of the copolyester and, ergo, the long chain ester units constitute about 5 to percent by weight of the copolyester; at least about 50 percent of the short chain ester units must be identical and a homopolymer in the fiber-forming molecular weight range (molecular weight 5,000) consisting of the identical short chain ester units must melt at at least C.

The copolyester is modified by adding to it, after it is formed 1. apolyepoxide having a functionality of at least about 2 which has an epoxide equivalent of about 50-2,000 and which may be depicted by the general formula:

R!!! RI!!! C C4 R-- R o where n has a value of about 2 to 15, R, R and R"" where X is an aromatic or aliphatic (including cycloaliphatic) radical and Y is an aliphatic radical and X and Y may be joined to form a five or six membered ring and X and/0r Y contain at least one more amine group which can be represented by formulas (a') and/or(a") and (b) cyclic anhydrides of polyc'arboxylic acids containing at least one structural unit represented by the following general formula where Z is a bivalent radical which forms a five or six membered ring in combination with the two carbonyl DETAILED DESCRIPTION The term long chain ester units as applied to units in a polymer chain refers to the reaction product of a long chain glycol with a dicarboxylic acid. Such long chain ester units, which are a repeating unit in the copolyesters of this invention, correspond to formula (a) above. The long chain glycols are polymeric glycols having terminal (or as nearly terminal as possible) hydroxy groupsand a molecular weight from about 4006,000. The long chain glycols used to prepare the copolyesters of this invention are poly(alkylene oxide) glycols having a carbon-to-oxygen ratio of about 2.0-4.3. Representative long chain glycols are poly(ethylene oxide) glycol, poly(l,2- and 1,3- propylene oxide) glycol, poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol, random or block copolymers of ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide, and random or block copolymers of tetrahydrofuran with minor amounts of a second monomer such as 3-methyltetrahydrofuran (used in proportions such that the carbon-to-oxygen mole ratio in the glycol does not exceed about 4.3

The term short chain ester units as applied to units in a polymer chain refers to low molecular weight compounds or polymer chain units having molecular weights less that about 550. They are made by reacting a low molecular weight diol (below about 250) with a dicarboxylic acid to form esterunits represented by formula (b) above.

Included among the low molecular weight diols alicyclic, and aromatic dihydroxy compounds. Preferred are diols with 2'l5 carbon atoms such as ethylene, propylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, 2,Z-dimethyltrimethylene,- hexamethylene, and decamethylene glycols, dihydroxy cyclohexane, cyclohexane dimethanol, resorcinol, hydroquinone,

ylic acids having two functional carboxyl groups which perform substantially like dicarboxylic acids in reaction with glycols and diols in forming copolyester polymers.

.These equivalents include esters and ester-forming derivatives, such as acid halides and anhydrides. The

molecular weight requirement pertains to the acid and not to its' equivalent ester or ester-forming derivative.

Thus, an ester of a dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight greater than 300 or an acid equivalent of a dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight greater than 300 are included provided the acidhas a molecular weight below about 300. The dicarboxylic acids can contain any substituent groups or combinations which do not substantially interfere with the copolyester polymer formation and use of the polymer of this invention.

Aliphatic dicarboxylic .acids, as the term is used herein, refers to carboxylic acids having two carboxyl groups each attached to a saturated carbon atom. If the carbon atom to which the carboxyl group is attached is saturated and is in a ring, the acid is cycloaliphatic. Aliphatic or cycloaliphatic acids having conjugated unsaturation often cannot be used because of homopolymerization. However, some unsaturated acids, such as maleic acid, can be used.

Aromatic dicarboxylic acids, as the term is used herein, are dicarboxylic 'acids having 'two carboxyl groups attached to a carbon atom in an isolated or fused benzene ring. It is not necessary that both functional carboxyl groups be attached to the same aromatic ring and where more than one ring is present, they can be joined by aliphatic or aromatic divalent radicals or divalent radicals such as -O or SO Representative aliphatic and cycloaliphatic acids which can be used for this invention are sebacic acid,

I l,3-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, 1,4-cyclohexane which react to form short chain ester units are acyclic,

1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, etc. Especially preferred are aliphatic diols containing 2-8 carbon atoms. Included among the bis-phenols which can be used are bis(p-hydroxy) diphenyl, bis(p-hydroxyphenyl) methane, and bis(p-hydroxyphenyl) propane. Equivalent ester-forming derivatives of diols are also useful (e.g., ethylene oxide or ethylene carbonate can be used in place of ethylene glycol). The term low molecular weightdiols" as used herein should be construed to include such equivalent ester-forming derivatives; provided, however, that the molecular weight requirement pertains to the diol only and not to its derivatives.

Dicarboxylic acids which are reacted with the foregoing long chain glycols and low molecular weight diols to produce the copolyesters of this invention are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic dicarboxylic acids of a low molecular weight, i.e., having a molecular weight of less than about 300. The term .dicarboxylic acids as'used herein, includes equivalents ofdicarboxdicarboxylic acid, .adipic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, carbonic acid, oxalic acid, azelaic acid, diethylmalonic acid, allyl malonic acid, 4-cyclohexane-.l,2- dicarboxylic acid, 2-ethylsuberic acid, 2,2,3 ,3-

tetramethylsuccinic acid, cyclopentan'edicarboxylic acid, decahydro-l,S-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-bicyclohexyl dicarboxylic acid, decahydro-2,6 naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-methylenebis- (cyclohexane carboxylic acid), 3,4-furan dicarboxylic acid, and l,l-cyclobutane,dicarboxylic acid. Preferred aliphatic acids are cyclohexane-dicarboxylic acids and adipic acid.

Representative aromatic dicarboxylic acids which can be used include terephthalic, phthalic and isophthalic acids, bibenzoic acid, substituted dicarboxy compounds with two benzene nuclei such as bis(p-carboxyphenyl)methane, p-oxy(p-carboxy-phenyl) benzoacid, ethylene-bis(p-oxybenzoic acid), 1,5- naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, 2,6naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, 2,7-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid,

phenanthrene dicarboxylic acid, anthracene dicarbox- 8-16 carbon atoms are especially preferred, particularly the phenylene dicarboxylic acids, e.g., phthalic, terephthalic and isophthalic acids, their dimethyl ester derivatives and mixtures thereof.

It is essential that at least about 50 percent of the short segments are identical and that the identical segments form a homopolymer in the fiber-forming molecular weight range (molecular weight 5,000)

having a melting point of at least about 150C. and preferably greater than 200C. Polymers meeting these requirements exhibit a useful level of properties such as tensile strength and tear strength. Polymer melting points are conveniently determined by differential scanning calorimetry.

The short chain ester units will constitute about 15-95 weight percent of the copolyester. The remainder of the copolyester will be the long segments, ergo, the long segment will compriseabout -85 weight percent of the copolyester.

Most preferred segmented copolyesters for use in this invention are those prepared from dimethyl terephthalate, 1,4-butanediol, and poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 6002,000 or poly(ethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 600-l,500. Optionally, up

to about 30 mole percent and preferably 5-20 mole percent of the dimethyl terephthalate in these polymers can be replaced by dimethyl phthalate or dimethyl isophthalate. Other preferred copolyesters are those prepared from dimethyl terephthalate, 1,4-butanediol, and poly(propylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 600-1 ,600. Up to 30 mole percent and preferably -25 mole percent of the dimethyl terephthalate can be replaced with dimethyl isophthalate or butanediol can be replaced with neopentyl glycol until up to about 30 percent and preferably 10-25 percent of the short chain ester units are derived from neopentyl glycol in these poly(propylene oxide) glycol polymers. The polymers based on poly(tetramethylene oxide) 1 glycol are especially preferred because they are easily prepared, have overall superior physical properties, and are especially resistant to water.

The dicarboxylic acids or their derivatives and the polymeric glycol are incorporated into the final product in the same molar proportions as are present in the reaction mixture. The amount of low molecular weight diol actually incorporated corresponds to the difference between the moles of diacid and polymeric glycol present in the reaction mixture. When mixtures of low molecular weight diols are employed, the amounts of each diol incorporated is largely a function of the amounts of the diols present, their boiling points, and relative reactivities. The total amount of glycol incorporated is still the difference between moles of diacid and polymeric glycol.

The polymers described herein can be made conveniently by starting with a conventional ester interchange reaction. A preferred procedure involves heating the dimethyl ester of terephthalic acid with a long chain glycol and a molar excess of 1,4-butane-diol in the presence of a catalyst at 150-260C. While distilling off methanol formed by the ester interchange. Depending on temperature, catalyst, glycol excess, and equipment, this reaction can be completed withina few minutes to a few hours. This procedure results in the preparation of a low molecular weight prepolymer which can be carried to a high molecular weight copolyester of this invention by the procedure described below. Such prepolymers can also be prepared by a number of alternate esterification or ester interchange processes; for example, the long chain glycol can be reacted with a high or low molecular weight short chain ester homopolymer of copolymer in the presence of catalyst until randomization occurs. The short chain ester homopolymer or copolymercan be prepared by ester interchange from either the dimethyl esters and low molecular weight diols, as above, or from the free acids with the diol acetates. Alternatively, the short chain ester copolymer can be prepared by direct esterification from appropriate acids, anhydrides, or acid chlorides, for example, with diols or by other processes such as reaction of the acids with cyclic ethers or carbonates. Obviously, the prepolymer might also be prepared by running these processes in the presence of the long chain glycol.

The resulting prepolymer is then carried. to high molecular weight by distillation of the excess of short chain diol. This process is known as polycondensation.

Additional ester interchange occurs during this polycondensation or distillation; the distillation serves to increase the molecular weight and to randomize the arrangement of the copolyester units. Best results are usually obtained if this final distillation or polycondensation is run at less than 1 mm. Hg. pressureand 240-260C. for less than 2 hours, e.g., 0.5 to 1.5 hours in the presence of antioxidants such as sym-di-betanaphthyl-p-phenylenediamine and 1,3,5-trimethyl- 2,4,6-tris[3,5-ditertiarybutyl-4-hydroxybenzyllbenzene. Most practical polymerization techniques rely upon ester interchange to complete the polymerization reaction. In order to avoid excessive hold time at high temperatures with possible irreversible thermal degradation, a catalyst for the ester interchange reaction should be employed. While a wide variety of catalysts can be used organic titanates such as tetrabut'yl titanate used alone or in combination with magnesium or calcium acetates are preferred. Complex titanates, such as Mg[l-lTi(OR) ]2, derived from alkali or alkaline earth metal alkoxides and titanate esters are also very effective. Inorganic titanates, such as lanthanum titanate, calcium acetate/antimony trioxide mixtures and lithium and magnesium alkoxides are representative of other catalysts which can be used.

Ester interchange polymerizations are generally run in the melt without added solvent, but inert solvents can be used to facilitate removal of volatile components from the mass at low temperatures. This technique is especially valuable during prepolymer preparation, for example, by direct esterification. However, certain low molecular weight diols, for example, butanediol in terphenyl, are conveniently removed during high polymerization by azeotropic distillation.

Other special polymerization techniques, for example,

interfacial polymerization of bisphenol with bisacylhalides and bisacylhalide capped linear diols, may prove useful for preparation of specific polymers. Both batch and continuous methods can be used for any stage of copolyester polymer preparation. Polycondensation of prepolymer can also be accomplished in the solid phase by heating divided solid prepolymer in a vacuum or in a stream of inert gas to remove liberated low molecular weight diol. This method has the advantage of reducing degradation because it must be used at temperatures below the softening point of the prepolymer.

The copolyester is modified by the presence of (a) 1.0-$0.0 percent by weight, based on said copolyester, of a polyepoxide having at least two functional groups and (b) 0.5-1.1 equivalents per one epoxy equivalent of an epoxy curing agent selected from aromatic and aliphatic polyamines and cyclic anhydrides of polycarboxylic acids. Optionally, from 0.05-0.50 weight percent, based on said copolyester, of an epoxy catalyst may be added to the copolyester.

In more detail, the polyepoxide having a functionality of at least 2 is added to the copolyester in the amount of 1.0 to 50 percent by weight, based on said copolyester, preferably 5 to 40 percent by weight and more preferably to 30 percent by weight.

Any polyepoxide having a functionality of at least two may be utilized for modifying the copolyester of the instant invention. It is much preferred however to where n is 2-10 and R" has the meaning given hereinmethylenebis(phenol) and polyphenols derived from phenol or cresol and an aldehyde (novolacs). Other suitable polyepoxides include reaction products of epichlorohydrin and aliphatic compounds containing two to six alcoholic hydroxyl groups such as ethylene glycol, butanediol-l ,4, poly( alkylene oxide)glycols and triols, glycerol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, pentaerythritol and sorbitol. Polyglycidyl esters of polycarboxylic acids such as adipic acid, succinic acid, phthalic acid and mellitic acid are also representative of suitable use polyepoxides having the following general formula: polyepoxides.

Certain individual polyepoxides having at least two functionalities are particularly preferred in the instant invention. They include diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A having the following structure:

0 OH; on on; 0 I a I m1,- cn-crn 0- -c- I 0cm CH- CH: 0- -e-- h Osman-(.11,

on, cm

where n 2-10 and R and R" have the meanings given hereinbefore and the polyepoxide has an epoxide equivalent of about 75-] ,000. Epoxide compounds ob- C Hrtained by epoxidation of olefins or by reaction of epihalohydrins with active hydrogen compounds are useful in the present compositions.

Representative polyepoxides obtained by epoxidation include vinylcyclohexene dioxide, bis(2,3-epoxycyclopentyl)ether, 3 ,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3 ,4- epoxycyclohexane carboxylate bis( 3 ,4-epoxy-6- methylcyclohexylmethyl )adipate, 3 3 ,4-epoxycyclohexane )-8,9-epoxy-dioxaspiro [5 .5 l-undecane, epoxidized butadiene and epoxidized natural oils.

Epoxides prepared from epihalohydrins and active hydrogen compounds; that is, polyglycidyl compounds, are preferred for use in the present compositions.

These polyepoxides may be represented by the general 65 formula:

where x is to zero to 5 and the polyglycidyl ethers of phenolformaldehyde novolacs having the following 0 -cHcm-0 conic u-cm ocmc crn where y is l to 6.

The epoxy curing agents which may be utilized arev aromatic and aliphatic polyamines and cyclic anhydrides of polycarboxylic acids. The polyamines must contain at least two amine groups which can be primary and/or secondary amine groups.

The primary amine groups may be linked to aliphatic (including cycloaliphatic) or aromatic radicals. The secondary amine groups may be linked to two aliphatic radicals or to one aromatic radical and one aliphatic X-NH2 and X-NH where X IS an aromatic or aliphatic (including cycloaliphatic) radical and Y is an aliphatic radical and X and Y may be joined to form a five or six membered ring. X and/or Y must contain at least one moreamino group which can be represented by formulas (a') and/or (a"). Preferred aromatic radicals are C C preferred aliphatic radicals are C -C are preferred cycloaliphatics are C -C The aliphatics, aromatics and cycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted with alkoxy, alkyl, halogen or other noninterfering species.

Representative polyamines which may be utilized include ethylene diamine, tetramethylene diamine, bis(hexamethyle ne)triamine, triethylenetetramine, menthanediamine, B-aminoethylpiperazine, 1,3- diaminocyclohexane, N-methyl-l,3-diaminocyclohexane, 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine), m-phen- -ylenediamine, odiaminodiphenylmethane, cumene diamine, 4,4',4"- triaminotriphenylmethane, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 2,4,4'-triaminodiphenyl ether and 2,4-bis(4- aminobenzyl)aniline. Of these polyamines those having two or more aromatic primary amine groups are preferred. Such polyamines contain at least two amine groups which can be represented by the formula X-NII (a') wherein X is an aromatic radical. Particularly preferred aromatic polyamines include m-phenylene diamine, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane and cumene diamine and mixtures thereof.

The cyclic anhydrides of carboxylic acids which can be used to cure the polyepoxide contain at least one structural unit represented by the formula where Z is a bivalent radical which forms a five or six membered ring in combination with the carbonyl two carbon atoms and the oxygen atom of the anhydride. Representative anhydrides include maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, glutaric anhydride, phthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, nadic anhydride, nadic methyl anhydride, dodecenyl succinic.

and m-toluenediamines, 4,4'--

preferred primary aromatic polyamines are used as curing agents, it is most preferred to use about 0.95 equivalents of amine per epoxy equivalent.

The polyepoxide and the curing agent are added to the copolyester by mixing at elevated temperatures near the softening point or melting point of the copolyester in equipment such as rubber mills, extruders and internal mixers (Banbury mixer). In general, the lowest temperature at which effective mixing can be obtained is preferred. Temperatures in the range of about l50250C. are usually required and depend largely on the melting point of the particular polyester being used. I

The polyepoxide and curing agent can be added to the finished copolyester immediately after polycondensation and melt blended with a mix screw for instance while it is still in the molten state and prior to cooling or quenching. Alternatively, the polyepoxide and curing agent may be added subsequently by remelting the finished copolyester. A particularly convenient means of adding solid polyepoxides and solid curing agents involves dry blending the polyepoxide and curing agent with copolyester pellets and passing the dry blend through an extruder or injection molding machine. In this manner melt blending can be combined with extrusion or injection molding forming steps. If copolyester blended with polyepoxide and curing agent is cooled promptly after blending, the resulting material can be stored for one to several days before processing as a thermoplastic into finished items.

The polyepoxide and curing agent do not have to be blended with the copolyester simultaneously. In some instances it is convenient to blend the copolyester and polyepoxide well in advance of the addition of curing agent. The epoxide can be added to molten finished copolyester immediately after the polycondensation or the finished copolyester can be remelted. The blend of copolyester and polyepoxide is stable for a prolonged period of time measured in weeks or months. It can be easily dry blended with solid curing agents with mixing occurring as the dry blend is used in an extruder or injection molding machine. When using aliphatic polyamines as curing agents, the curing agent should not be added prior to the polyepoxide as degradation of the copolyester may occur. Aromatic polyamines can be added prior to the polyepoxide, but it is preferred that the polyepoxide be added first or simultaneously. Cyclic anhydrides can be added prior to polyepoxides without any detrimental effect.

After the addition of the polyepoxide and curing agent, the copolyester composition is usually thermosetting, but before curing it can be formed by any means normally used in processing thermoplastics including extrusion and injection and compression molding. The articles produced by such methods must then be cured in order to reach their ultimate properties. Curing can be accomplished at temperatures ranging from about 50 to 140C. for about 2 hours to 3 days. Curing for about 16 hours at C. is satisfactory in many instances. During curing, the polyepoxide and curing agent react to form a cross-linked resin. It is believed that simultaneously the polyepoxide, particularly if it is in excess, reacts with any carboxyl end groups contained in the copolyester. As a result, the cured product apparently is not merely a blend of copolyester and cured epoxy.

In an embodiment of the instant invention from 0.050.5 weight percent of an epoxy catalyst based on the weight of copolyester may also be added. Preferably from 0.1 to 0.3 weight percent of the epoxy catalyst is added to the copolyester.

Suitable epoxy catalysts which may be utilized include secondary aliphatic amines such as dibutylamine,N-methylcyclohexylamine, N-methylpiperazine, piperidine, pyrrolidine and 4,4- dipiperidine; tertiary aliphatic amines such as N,N- dimethylbenzylamine, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine, N,N-dimethylpiperazine, N-ethylmorpholine, N- methylpiperidine and triethylene diamine; metallic salts of organic acids such as calcium stearate, zinc naphthenate, sodium acetate, stannous octoate and lead naphthenate; and metal halide Lewis acids and their complexes such as boron trifluoride, zinc chloride, stannic chloride, boron tritluoride-piperidine complex and boron trifluoride-monoethanolamine complex.

Of these catalysts, the secondary aliphatic amines are preferred and higher boiling secondary amines having boiling points approaching or exceeding the melting point of the copolyester are especially preferred because they are largely retained during mixing with the copolyetherester. 4,4'-Trimethylene-dipiperidine has been found to be especially effective and convenient to usein the present compositions.

The presence of the epoxy catalyst serves to increase the rate of curing of the epoxy and is believed further to catalyze the reaction of epoxide groups with carboxyl groups present in the copolyester.

If an epoxy catalyst is to be added, it can be added with the polyepoxide and curing agent but is preferably added after the polyepoxide and curing agent have been at least partially melt blended with the copolyester. The catalyst should not be added to the copolyester in the absence of the polyepoxide as this can cause copolyester degradation. In instances where the epoxide or the epoxide and curing agent are added to the molten copolyester emerging from the copolyester process it is usually desirable not to add catalyst at this point. Instead, catalyst can be conveniently mixed with the copolyester as it is being used in operations such as injection molding or extrusion.

As previously indicated, the mixture of copolyester, polyepoxide and curing agent prior to curing can be processed by methods generally useful for thermoplastic materials. After cure 'has taken place, the polymer compositions are generally no longer thermoplastic and .do not meltat temperatures as high as 250C. The cured polymer exhibits outstanding hydrolytic stability and scuff resistance and improved high temperature properties relative to the starting copolyester. At the same time, the outstanding low temperature properties of the unaltered copolyester are retained in full. The draw-plateau which is characteristic of the stress-strain curye for most copolyesters is reduced or even eliminated in the instant compositions.

The improved properties of the present polymer composition suggest their use in application where hot water and steam are encountered and/or where rough handling is likely to take place. The compositions are useful in applications such as hydraulic hose inner tubes, steam hoses and hose coverings. Because of their scuff resistance and superior low temperature properties, they. are also useful in wire coverings, cable jackets, ski boots and molded snowmobile tracks.

The properties of these copolyester compositions can be modified by incorporation of various conventional inorganic fillers such ascarbon black, silica gel, alumina, clays, and chopped fiberglass. In general, these additives have the effect of increasing the modulus of the material at various elongations. Compounds having a range of hardness values can be obtained by blending hard and soft polyestersof this invention or by varying the amount and functionality of the added polyepoxide and curing agent.

All parts, proportions and percentages disclosed herein are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

The following examples further illustrate the invention.

TEST PROCEDURES The following ASTM methods are used in determining the properties of the polymers in the examples:

' Cross-head speed 20 inches/minute.

" Modified by use of 1.5 X3 inch sample with 1.5 inch cut on the long axis of the sample. This configuration avoids "necking down" of the sample at the point of tearing. Cross-head speed 50 inch/minute.

Inherent viscosities of the polymers in the following examples are measured at 30C. at a concentration of I 0.1g./dl. in m-cresol.

The carboxyl group content can be determined by dissolving the copolyester in cresol, adding water and chloroform, and titrating the solution with standardized ethanolic potassium hydroxide. The end point is determined by potentiometry.

EXAMPLES Copolyester A is prepared by ester interchange of 4,84 moles of dimethyl terephthalate hereinafter (DMT), 1.41 moles of dimethyl isophthalate hereinafter '(DMI), 1.0 mole of polytetramethyleneether glycol hereinafter (PTMEG- 980) (having a number average molecular weight about 980-butanediol in the presence of a tetrabutyl titanate/magnesium acetate catalyst and a stabilizer [sym-di-beta-naphthyl-phenylene diamine]. Ester interchange is conducted at atmospheric pressure up to a final temperature of 220C. The ester interchange is followed by polycondensation at 250C. at less than 1 mm. Hg. for about minutes. The resulting polymer has an inherent viscosity of 1.72 and contains about 27.2 milliequivalents of carboxyl groups per kilogram (kg.) of polymer.

Copolyester B is prepared by ester interchange of 7.85 moles of DMT, 1 mole PTMEG-980 and excess l,4-butanediol using the ester interchange catalyst and the stabilizer described for the preparation of CopolyesterA. The ester interchange and polycondensation reaction is effected under essentially the same conditions as used for the preparation of copolyester A. The resulting polymer has an inherent viscosity of 1.51 and carboxyl content of 27.9 milliequivalents/kg.

Polyepoxide A l CHzCE-CH: 0111-0370112 CHgCE/'CH2 Catalyst A HNH Range of equivalent weight for commercially available material approximating the indicated structure.

EXAMPLE l Copolyester A is mixed with polyepoxide A and 4,4- methylene dianiline in the amounts tabulated below. The compounding is effected by milling on a steamheated rubber mill at 165-l70C. for five minutes. In experiments lA, B and C the curing agent was added after the polyepoxide was milled into the polymer for a few minutes.

1A 1B 1C 1D Copoly' ester A (parts) 100 l00 100 100 Polyepoxide A (parts) l0 4,4'-methylene 2.8 4.2 8.4

dianiline (parts) Control 1A 1B lC lD Room Temperature Properties Tensile Strength, psi. 5050 4700 4100 5700 Elongation at Break, 740 .580 400 8 l0 Modulus, psi. 1280 1400 2100 1010 300% Modulus, psi. 1740 2180 3550 1270 Trouser Tear, pli. 270 250 I60 3 l5 Shore A Hardness 92 93 93 92 Torsional Modulus (Clash Berg)at -40C., psi. 10285 7500 Equivalent Weight 100C. Properties Tensile Strength, psi. 1550 l240 Elongation at Break, '5: 510 600 l00l: Modulus, psi. 460 405 300% Modulus, psi. 950 600 500% Modulus, psi. 1440 950 The copolyester/polyepoxide blends exhibit substantially improved moduli characteristics at room temperature and 100C. without significant increase in hardness or low temperature stiffness.'

EXAMPLE 2 Copolyester A (100 parts) is mixed with polyepoxide A (15 parts) and m-phenylene diamine parts) according to the procedure given in Example 1 After shredding of the compounded polymer 80 mil slabs are compression molded at 240C. and cured for 20 hours at 100C. The cured polymer is no longer thermoplastic and does not melt at 250C. Properties of the original copolyester and that modified with polyepoxide and diamine are tabulated below:

Original Polyepoxide and Diamine Copolyester Modified Copolyester Original Properties Tensile Strength, psi. 5700 6l00 Elongation at Break, 810 780 l00% Modulus, psi. 1010 l l90 300% Modulus, psi. 1270 l600 500% Modulus, psi. 1990 2330. Trouser Tear, pli. 315 320 Hardness, Shore A 92 92 Physical Properties After Water Immersion at 100C.

The epoxide modification followed by curing resulted in a thermosetting polymer composition with theprocessing characteristics of a thermoplastic. The cured polymer exhibits more favorable stress strain properties and heat aging characteristics as well as greatly improved hydrolytic stability in comparison to the control polymer.

EXAMPLE 3 Copolyester A (100 parts) is mixed with polyepoxide A (15 parts) and, trimellitic anhydride (5 parts) as described in Example 1. After shredding and drying 80 mil slabs were prepared from the compounded polymer 7 by compression molding at 205C. The cure is carried out by heating for 16. hours at 100C. followed by 2 hours at 150C. The resulting polymer has a Shore A hardness of 92 and a 80 percent higher modulus-at 300 percent elongation than thatobserved for copolyester A.

EXAMPLE 4 Five parts of polyepoxide. B are mixed with 100 parts of copolyester B and 2.6 parts of 4,4'-methylene dianiline in an agitated'flask at 230C. under a nitrogen atmosphere. The preferred procedure consists of melting first the copolyester followed by the addition of the polyepoxide and finally the amine curing agent and agitating the liquid mixture slowly for afew minutes under these conditions. The resulting polymer blend is then compression molded at 245C. to 80-mil slabs and cured at 100C. for 20 hours. The physical properties of the original copolyester andthe polyepoxy modified polymer are shown below.

Original Copolyester/ Copolyester Polyepoxy Blend Tensile Strength, psi. 5400 4800 Elongation at Break, 730 690 100% Modulus, psi. 2200 2150 300% Modulus, psi. 2460 2250 500% Modulus, psi. 3330 3950 Shore D Hardness 56 56 Trouser Tear, pli. 410 425 The polyepoxy I modified copolyester exhibits the same excellent properties of the unmodified polymer, but shows a similar improvement in hydrolytic stability asillustrated in Example 2.

EXAMPLE 5 Copolyester A is compounded with polyepoxide C and 4,4'-methylene dianiline in the amounts tabulated below in the presence of catalyst A according to the procedure of Example 1:

5A 5B 5C Copolyester A (parts) 100 100 Polyepoxide C (parts) 10 15 20 4,4' methylene dianiline 2.5 3.75 5.0 parts Catalyst A (parts) 0.2 0.2 0.2

Eighty mil slabs are prepared from the compounded polymers by compression molding at 240C. and curing at 100C. for 16 hours. The cured polymers are no longer soluble in m-cresol and do not melt at 250C.

Properties .of the original copolyester and those modified with polyepoxide are shown below:

Polymer compositions 5A, B and C exhibit significantly higher moduli than the control polymer, while maintaining the excellent low temperature properties and high resilience of the copolyester A. Furthermore, the cured epoxy 'modification results in greatly improved scuff resistance.

What is claimed is:

1. A segmented-copolyester composition consisting essentially of (a) a multiplicity of recurring long chain ester units and short chain ester units joined head-totail'through ester linkages, said long chain ester units being represented by the formula and said short chain units being represented by the formula II N (I? ODOCRC where G is a divalent radical remaining after the removal of terminal hydroxyl groups from a poly(alkylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 4006,000 and a carbon-to-oxygen ratio of about 2.04.3; R isa divalent radical remaining after removal of carboxyl groups from a dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight less than about 300 and D is a divalent radical remaining after removal of hydroxyl groups from a diol having a molecular weight less than about 250; provided said short chain ester units amount to about 15-95 percent by weight of said copolyester, and at least about 50 percent of said short chain ester units are identical and (b) from about 1.0 to 50 percent by weight, based on said copolyester of a polyepoxide having a functionality of not less than about 2, and (c) from about 0.5 to 1.1 equivalents per epoxy equivalent of an epoxy curing agent selected from aromatic and aliphatic polyamines and cyclic anhydrides of polycarboxylic acids.

wherein Z is a bivalent radical which forms a five or six membered ring in combination with the two carbonyl carbon atoms and the oxygen atom of the anhydride.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the polyepoxide has an epoxide equivalent of about 502,000 and is represented by the general formula:

wherein n has a value of about 2 to 15, R, R and R"" are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, R" is a polyvalent radical consisting essentially of C', H and O, and R and R" may be joined toforrn a carbocyclic ring.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein-R" contains carbocyclic aromatic nuclei substituted with Cl or Br.

7. The composition of claim 5 wherein R and R"" are hydrogen, n is 2 to 10 and the polyepoxide has an based on the weight of copolyester, of an epoxy catalyst.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said epoxy catalyst is a secondary aliphatic amine.

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid, terephahalic acid, isophthalic acid, their esters and mixtures thereof.

1 12. The composition of claim 2 wherein the poly(alkylene oxide) glycol is poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 600-2,000.

13. The composition of claim 2 wherein said glycol is poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 600-2,000, said dicarboxylic acid is dimethyl terephthalate and said diol is 1,4-butanediol.

14. The composition of claim 2 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is a mixture of dimethyl terephthalate and a maximum of 30 mole percent of dimethyl isophtha-' polyepoxide is' a polyglycidyl ether of a phenol-formaldehyde novolac. 

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the curing agent is a polyamine having at least two aromatic primary amine groups.
 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein said curing agent is selected from the group consisting of m-phenylene diamine, 4,4''-diamino diphenylmethane, cumene diamine and mixtures thereof.
 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said curing agent is a cyclic anhydride of a carboxylic acid which has at least one structural unit represented by the formula:
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the polyepoxide has an epoxide equivalent of about 50-2,000 and is represented by the general formula:
 6. The composition of claim 5 wherein R'''' contains carbocyclic aromatic nuclei substituted with Cl or Br.
 7. The composition of claim 5 wherein R'''''' and R'''''''' are hydrogen, n is 2 to 10 and the polyepoxide has an epoxide equivalent of about 75-1,000.
 8. The composition of claim 5 wherein said polyepoxide is a polyglycidyl compound.
 9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said copolyester also contains 0.05-0.5 weight percent, based on the weight of copolyester, of an epoxy catalyst.
 10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said epoxy catalyst is a secondary aliphatic amine.
 11. The composition of claim 1 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid, terephahalic acid, isophthalic acid, their esters and mixtures thereof.
 12. The composition of claim 2 wherein the poly(alkylene oxide) glycol is poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 600-2,000.
 13. The composition of claim 2 wherein said glycol is poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of about 600-2,000, said dicarboxylic acid is dimethyl terephthalate and said diol is 1,4-butanediol.
 14. The composition of claim 2 wherein said dicarboxylic acid is a mixture of dimethyl terephthalate and a maximum of 30 mole percent of dimethyl isophthalate, dimethyl phthalate or mixtures thereof.
 15. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polyepoxide is a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A.
 16. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polyepoxide is a polyglycidyl ether of a phenol-formaldehyde novolac. 